BSA Spitfire pros/cons.

[gizwaz]

Evening all. I’ve got a lead on what seems to be a very nice spitfire in my favourite flavour of .177 but know very little about them so wondered if anyone here has any experiences they’d like to share?

I’m getting back into my older beezas and been thinking this would be a nice addition to my rapidly expanding family....

Cheers

[gingernut]

They are unusual and interesting.
Nice to shoot and the buddy bottle refill is a good idea.

But when they leak only John Bowkett can fix them.

To avoid or delay leaks use them every week.

Many have really battered stocks!

Pay £150 -£250

[hookerball]

Totally agree with the above quote.
You gotta keep using them or the valve will fail.
John had to repair mine.

I do like them very much though.

[gizwaz]

Thanks guys. Going to have a look shortly but from the pics it’s in great shape, externally anyway, and he says no leaks at all so fingers crossed.

[cooper_dan]

IMO they handle unlike any pcp you can buy today (in a good way!). Really nice to use. If it's the HF model the shot count is reasonable too. If it's the SF model make sure you get a buddy bottle with it.
Easy to change calibre if you want, just need another break barrel of the same era (supersport or early lightning).

With regards to servicing, I'm going to open mine up soon and see what makes it a specialist job. But as said before it probably isn't a DIY job.

[madcarlos]

IMO they handle unlike any pcp you can buy today (in a good way!). Really nice to use. If it's the HF model the shot count is reasonable too. If it's the SF model make sure you get a buddy bottle with it.
Easy to change calibre if you want, just need another break barrel of the same era (supersport or early lightning).

With regards to servicing, I'm going to open mine up soon and see what makes it a specialist job. But as said before it probably isn't a DIY job.

Hi it's not a job I would like to do with regards to service but I know of two people who have had theirs re sealed else where ,
However I have a spitfire and at first I was not sure what to think of it but I'm getting more fond of it the more I use it, Who ever sees my one always seems amazed by it , Surprising the amount of people who have never seen or heard of them,
I was offered a 177 cal one cheap as was tempted to keep the barrel and open the gun up to see what's inside, But hey all the best if your gonna try yours yourself.

[madcarlos]

Totally agree with the above quote.
You gotta keep using them or the valve will fail.
John had to repair mine.

I do like them very much though.

What is the rough price of a repair if you don't mind in me asking, I quite like mine but its always on your mind if they should ever start leaking,

[mdunn]

hi, i spoke to jb last year about servicing mine.It was £120 inc vat which i think is fair but £48 postage picked up and back to you. atb mick

[madcarlos]

hi, i spoke to jb last year about servicing mine.It was £120 inc vat which i think is fair but £48 postage picked up and back to you. atb mick

I think the, £120 is very reasonable.

[greenwayjames]

What is the rough price of a repair if you don't mind in me asking, I quite like mine but its always on your mind if they should ever start leaking,

Just spoke toJB. He said most arrive in carrier bags and old pellet tins containing buggered up bits, springs etc. The cost to put back to better than factory standard, not hard to do with BSA QC, is £125 + £20 post and packing if it isnt collected in person. Knackered major items such as barrels etc on examination by JB
are quoted for as an extra.

[hookerball]

What is the rough price of a repair if you don't mind in me asking, I quite like mine but its always on your mind if they should ever start leaking,

I did drop if off in person and waited for the repair(a new better replacement valve) then left within a hour.
The price was cheap as chips.
I will pm you the price as i do not want to complicate matters.

[greenwayjames]

Evening all. I’ve got a lead on what seems to be a very nice spitfire in my favourite flavour of .177 but know very little about them so wondered if anyone here has any experiences they’d like to share?

I’m getting back into my older beezas and been thinking this would be a nice addition to my rapidly expanding family....

Cheers

The Smallbore Rifle Association had a Spitfire for testing and evaluation at Bisley and after almost a year it was approved as their preferred pcp trainer replacing the CZ/AirArms s200. As such it would be a worthy addition to your collection. There is more information and photos on the Facebook JB fanpage of which I am editor

[DM80]

Who is JB?

Dave.

[hookerball]

Who is JB?

Dave.

John Bowkett (designer)

[DM80]

John Bowkett (designer)

Well he didn't design the spitfire very well

Dave.